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Tedrow: Nutsedge control must be done by hand

Agent Answers

Question: How can I get rid of nutgrass in my yard? It is taking over my flower beds and even grows through the black plastic weed barrier we have around our daylilies. — Sarah C., Athens

Answer: Unfortunately, there is very little you can do for nutsedge (nutgrass) in your annual and perennial flower bed. There are herbicides labeled for nutsedge control in turfgrass, but I am not aware of any for control in ornamental flowers. Nutsedge can thrive in poor or rich soil and probably really appreciates the water, fertilizer and mulch you provide for your flowering plants.

You mentioned that the nutsedge is able to grow through your black plastic weed barrier. This is not surprising; there is evidence of nutsedge popping up through asphalt in South Georgia!

Some types of nutsedge are able to penetrate black plastic but not clear plastic because the plant tip begins to unfurl under the plastic. So next time you change out your weed barrier, try switching to clear plastic if that is an option. Hand removal often is the best method of control in an ornamental bed, but you will be fighting the battle continuously.

When pulling nutsedge plants, make sure to remove the whole plant including any nutlets that could have formed on rhizomes from the mother plant. If the nutlets are left in the soil, a new plant will be produced by each nutlet, spreading the problem further.

In Georgia, we have both yellow and purple nutsedge as common weeds in the yard and on the farm. Both plants have triangular stems and pointed, grass-like leaves. The two types are distinguished by flower color, arrangement of nutlets (tubers) and leaf tip. Yellow nutsedge leaf tips gradually taper to a point, while purple nutsedge leaves taper to a point abruptly. The tubers of yellow nutsedge are edible and have an almond-like flavor, but purple nutsedge tubers are bitter when consumed.

For more information on yellow and purple nutsedge from the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, please visit: aces.nmsu.edu/ces/plantclinic/documents/nutsedges-w-12.pdf